Method of pickling coiled metal



July 5, 1938. c. H. MANION 2,122,913

- METHOD OF PICKLING comm METAL Filed Nov. 9, 1937 2 ShegLs-Sheet 1 July 5,1938 c. H. MANIQN v n N 2,122,913

METHOD OF PICKLING COILED METAL Filed Nov. 9, 19:57 r 2 sheets-sheet 3 v fill/z x17 \ElZ/ENTOI? ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1938 UNl-TED STATES PATENT. OFFICE,

2,122,913 .METHOD or PICKLING COILED METAL Charles H. Manion, Follansbee, W. Va. Application November 9, 1937, Serial No. 173,575 3 Claims. (01. 148-8) This invention relates broadly to methods of pickling metal, and more particularly to a method of pickling metal which haspreviously been rolled into strip.

5 It is now common practice in steel mill operation to roll the steel into what is known as continuous strip" comprising a single length of metal rolled into a continuous strip several hundred feet in length. The picklingof such a long 10 length of strip is now commonly accomplishedby threading the strip over and under alternately spaced rollers. located within a pickling tank ofconsiderable length. Pickling is accomplished by passing the sheet through the pickling bath all .contained within the tank or series of. tanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 30 method of pickling coiled continuous strip steel which depends principally upon natural forces for its successful operation, thereby eliminating the necessity for expensive and intricate mechanismsr 35 With these and other objects in view, the invention is hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a series of three pickling tanks in each of which is contained 40 a plurality of coils of strip steel;'.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2, of Fig.1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational viewof two adJacent coils within a tank illustrating 45 the coil opening action somewhat diagrammatically; v

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4, of Fig. 2:

Figure 5 is anenlarged sectional view illustrat- 50 ing the construction and operation of the elevators whereby the coils are transferred from one tank to the next succeeding tank; and- Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tank at the coil discharge end depicting the dis- 55- position of the coil supporting bar.

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral I designates generally a rectangular tank divided by partition walls II into compartments I2, I3 and I4. The tank I2 is intended to contain an'acid solution; the tank I3 is intended to contain an acid solution weaker than that contained within the tank I2, and tank I I preferably contains water. It may here be stated, however, that a plurality of separate and aligned tanks may be substituted for that shown in the 10 drawings.

Attached to the opposite side walls of each tank interiorly of the latter are inwardly directed and inclined ledges I5 designed to cooperate to serve as trackways on which the loosely coiled l5 strip steel I6 may be supported with the coils disposed transversely of the tank. Spacing bars I! are attached to the side walls of the tank at 'a spaced distance aboveand parallel with the trackways I 5, the bars I! functioning to space the opposite ends of the coils away from the tank walls.

The lower ends of the trackways I5 terminate at a spaced distance away from the bottom of the partition walls I I. a coil elevating and transferring mechanism consisting of a rectangular plate I'8 having a concavityextending longitudinally in its upper face and having a length approximating the width of the tank. The under side of said plate I8 is pivotally attached, as shown at I9, to a vertically reciprocable piston rod- 20 penetrating the tank bottom'and whose associated piston 2| is operable in a cylinder 22 located below the plane of the tank bottom. Forwardly extending projections 23 are provided on the plate I8 at a spaced distance from its opposite ends, and integral counterweights 24 extend rearwardly therefrom to overbalance the added weight of the projections 23 so as to return the plate I8 to its horizontal position after tilting.

In practice, a coil of strip steel, loosely coiled, is initially placed on the upper end of the track-j way I5 transversely of the tank I2. As shown'in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the self imposed weight of the coil on its bottom side will cause the bottom convolutions of the coil to close while the convolutions of the segmentalportion at the upper side 'will be spread apart. Thus, the opening of the upper convolutionsenables the pickling fluid-to have free and complete access to all exposed surfaces of the coiled strip.

' Assuming that the lowermost coil within the tank I2 has been completely treated in saidtank by the method now being rplained and removal Located in this space is 25 the projections coil is supported,

therefrom is desired: The plate l8; on which said is elevated by actuation of the piston rod 20 and piston 2| by air, water, oil, or other suitable means introduced into the cylinder 22. Elevation of the plate l8 and the thereby supported coil is continued upwardly through the fluid bath until the plate reaches a point adjacent the top of the partition wall II where 23 engage fixed projections in said wall, whereupon continued elevation of the plate l8 results in the plate being tripped and tilted forwardly about its pivotal point, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, causing the coil to roll off the plate and into the next adjacent tank. Following discharge of the coil, the plate. I8 is returned to its horizontal position by the counterweights 24 and is downwardly retracted until it reaches the limit of its downward movement, at which point it is slightly below the plane of the lower end of the trackway [5. During both the upward and downward movement of the elevating mechanism, the coils borne by the trackway l5 are maintained stationary by means of a cut-off plate 26, which latter is preferably fastened to and depends from the upper end of the piston rod 20 by means of a bracket 21. Said cut-off plate 26 is housed in an appropriately shaped cavity 28 provided therefor in the cylinder casing when the elevating mechamam occupies its retracted position. I It will also -most coil is supported by gravitating, the coils are be observed that the upper end of the cut-off plate 26 underlies the rear edge of the plate 18 and supports the latter in its horizontal posi- --tion.

' When the elevating mechanism reaches its fully retracted position, shown in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the line of coils, then being unsupported against forward movement, gravitate down the inclined trackway until the lower the plate l8. In so rotated approximately 120 .and the self imposed weight of each coil is consequently shifted so that the convolutions of a different segmental section of each coil are spread open, permitting free access'of the pickling fluid to all surfaces then exposed. After a predetermined length of time, the then lowermost coil is elevated and transferred from the tank, as hereinbefore described, after which the remaining rolls again gravitate, the removed coil being replaced by a fresh coil at the top of the inclined trackway [5. Obviously, during the period between its introduction and discharge from each tank the entire surface area of the strip comprising the coil has been adequately subjected to the fluid bath. Moreover, it may be pointed out that the opening and closing of'successive segmental sections of the coils with the consequent entrance and exit'of fluid to different portions of the. convolutions results in the fluid being more or less agitated, a condition deemed desirable foreflicient pickling.

As will be understood, the coils are successively treated in the tanks I2, 13 and I4, the operation being completed in the latter. The elevating mechanism associated with the tank l4 differs clined trackway extending from the others in that its plate I8 is flxed to the piston rod and does not tilt. Upon reaching the limit of its upward movement, this particular elevating mechanism is adapted to be retained in that position until a rod 30, shown in Fig. 6, is inserted axially of the coil. The elevator is then retracted and the ends of the rod 30 are engaged by U-bearings 3| attached to the opposite side walls of the tank interiorly of the latter. The coil is thus supported bythe rod 30 from which it may be unwound in continuation of the process of manufacturing strip steel.

The coils depicted in the drawings illustrate but a comparatively few convolutions. The coils so shown are for purposes of illustration only, and it will be understood that numerous convolutions will be found in a coiled steel strip of several hundred feet in length.

What'is claimed isa 1. The method of pickling continuous steel strip in a tank containing the fluid bath, comprising the winding of the strip into a loose coil; positioning the coil on an inclined trackway extending through the fluid bath so that the coil supports its own weight thereon and thereby spreads open the convolutions of an upper segmental portion of said coil so as to permit access of the fluid bath open convolutions, and periodically permitting the coil to gravitate downwardly on the trackstrip in a tank containing the fluid bath, comprising the winding of the strip into a loose coil, positioning a plurality of said coils on an inthrough the fluid bath so that said coils support their own weight on said trackway and thereby spreads open the convolutions of an upper segmental section of each coil so as to permit access of the fluid bath to all exposed surfaces of the open convolutions, and periodically removing the lowermost coil on the trackway to permit the balance of the coils to advance by gravitation, thereby rotating each of the remaining coils a fraction of their circumference to close the convolutions previously treated and to open others for treatment.

3. The method of pickling continuous steel strip in a tank containing the fluid bath comprising the winding of the strip into a loose coil; positioning a plurality of said coils on a stationary, rectilinear trackway extending through the fluid bath so that said coils support their own weight on said trackway and thereby spread open the convolutions of an upper segmental section of each coil so asto permit access of the fluid bath to the exposed surfaces of the open con-.

2. The method of pickling continuous steel.v

to all exposed surfaces of the 

